Two men accused of carrying out a homophobic attack on a teenager in Bristol's city centre have denied the incident was related to the victims’ sexuality.

Kyle Gibson and Luke Sheppard, who are both 22, appeared at Bristol Magistrates Court yesterday in relation to an incident which saw 19-year-old Ben Jennings allege that he had been the victim of a hate crime.

Gibson, of Binhay Road, Yatton, has pleaded guilty to a charge of assault but denies that it was aggravated by homophobia.

Sheppard, of Downside Road, Backwell, pleaded not guilty to causing harassment, alarm or distress through the use of insulting words and threatening and abusive behaviour.

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The charges relate to an incident on May 7, in which Mr Jennings suffered facial injuries on Park Street as he walked to meet his boyfriend after spending the evening in popular gay nightclub OMG. A picture of him in the aftermath of the incident was posted on social media.

The Crown Prosecution Service alleges that the attack was homophobic because Mr Jennings was verbally abused before and during the attack, which the defendants deny.

A trial will now take place in September at Bristol Magistrates Court.

Both Sheppard, who was represented by Debbie Clark, and Gibson, who was defended by Lisa Slowcombe, voluntarily attended a police station following an appeal by the police.